Settle in and listen to Heather Morris and Ellen Cregan, in conversation at Readings Carlton for our very first First Book Club event of the year. When Lale Sokolov wanted to tell his story, Heather Morris had no idea what she’d uncovered. Today the story of his survival, and his love for his wife, makes up our February Book Club Title The Tattooist of Auschwitz. You can read an extract from the book, which is out now from Echo Publishing, right here.

Our March First Book Club title is Robert Lukin’s The Everlasting Sunday.

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Meaghan Dew: Welcome back to the Kill Your Darlings Podcast. We’ve had a break over the summer but, as much as we hate to admit it, autumn is here and so are we. Our First Book Club series will be running throughout the year and, where we can, we’ll release recordings of these events between our regularly scheduled programming. Our February book club title was The Tattooist of Auschwitz by Heather Morris. She was recorded in conversation with Ellen Cregan this week.

Ellen Cregan: Welcome to Kill Your Darlings’ First Book Club. So, before we begin, I’d just like to acknowledge that we’re meeting here today on the land of the Wurundjeri people and we pay our respect to elders past, present and emerging and extend that respect to any elders from any other communities who may be here today.

So today we’re here with Heather Morris, who’s written this fantastic book, The Tattooist of Auschwitz, which some of you may have already read, others are about to read. So, welcome Heather and thank you very much for coming. So, this is the story of Lale Sokolov – and I’ve said that correctly haven’t I?

Heather Morris: Yes, you have.

KYD: The real life tattooist assigned to Auschwitz-Birkenau. So, we’re actually going to start with a little reading from the text, so you can all get a taste of the writing if you haven’t already read the book.

HM: Thank you.

Lale runs from the building to the women’s camp. The door to block twenty-nine was shut. No one stands guard outside. Entering, Lale finds the women huddled together at the back. Even Cilka is there. They gather around, frightened and full of questions.

‘All I can tell you is that the SS appear to be destroying records,’ Lale says. ‘One of them told me the Russians are nearby.’ He withholds the news that the camp is going to be emptied out the next day, because he doesnR